Fake Dating My Campus Rival

His secret

Chapter 2

He stared at me for a long moment before a smile tugged at his lips. It never reached his eyes.

“Young girls like you ask for this kind help all the time and they all get it because of how generous I am,”

I nodded desperately.

“But on a condition,” He smirked

“What condition, sir, I promise to pay back as soon as I can, please," I pleaded.

“Calm down little girl,” He smiled. “It’s not a big deal at all, you might not have to pay back though.”

“Then what do I have to do, sir? I am ready for anything” I asked calmly.

“Um… ready for anything, you said.” he smirked.

I nodded.

He dragged his chair a little closer.

The way he looked at me made my skin crawl

“Um… Mr. Penuel,” I said slowly.

“You look so sweet,” His lips curved. His eyes were still glued to me.

I adjusted my shirt to cover me up completely.

“You seem uncomfortable,” He said softly.

“You were about to tell me the condition,” I faked a smile.

He leaned back in his chair with a smug smile playing on his lips.

"Spend a night with me, and your problems disappear."

For a moment, I simply stared at him because the words refused to make sense.

Spend a night with me.

My heartbeat slowed... then slammed painfully against my ribs.

No. I had to be misunderstanding him.

My fingers tightened around the file until the edges dug into my palms.

"I'm... sorry?" My voice came out as nothing more than a whisper. "I don't think I heard you correctly."

His smile widened.

"I believe you heard me perfectly."

A chill crept down my spine.

He couldn't possibly mean what I thought he meant.

"This isn't funny, sir."

"I'm not joking."

Silence swallowed the room.

I searched his face, hoping to find some sign that this was a sick joke, but all I saw was amusement.

He was enjoying this.

"You need money," he continued calmly, folding his hands on the desk. "I need companionship for one night. It's a fair exchange."

My stomach lurched.

Companionship?

Was that what he called it?

The air suddenly felt too heavy to breathe.

I pushed my chair back so quickly that it scraped loudly against the tiled floor.

"What..." My voice shook. "Is this what you ask every student who comes here for help?"

His expression hardened.

"Watch your tone."

"No." I stared at him in disbelief. "You're supposed to protect your students, not prey on them."

His jaw clenched.

"Do you have any idea how many girls would gladly accept this offer?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

"Then go and ask one of them," I said, forcing my trembling legs to stay still. "Because I'm not selling myself for this.”

“Then you have to settle your bills immediately.”

“You are so unbelievable.” I spat.

I hated myself for coming to him. I should never have listened to Sophie.

“Three days. Just three days to decide and if you are not able to pay… you'll be thrown out,” His jaw tightened.

I gave him a last glance and left his office immediately.

“Just three days, you brat,” He shouted behind me.

Is this really what most people do when they are unable to get their fees paid?

How do I get that huge amount of money to pay within three days? I just lost my job and now I have exhausted my entire savings.

Tears rolled down my cheek before I realized it.

Sophie. I need to speak with her right away.

Her idea didn't work out as planned.

I walked down the hallway with my head lowered, barely noticing the students passing by.

Then…

I sighted Ace Carter.

He was standing alone at the end of the hallway, one hand tucked into the pocket of his jeans while lazily scrolling through his phone.

My heart skipped.

He wasn't surrounded by his teammates for once. This was my chance.

I quickly smoothed the wrinkles from my shirt and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

Was my hair too messy?

I rubbed my sweaty palms against my skirt.

Okay, Lia.

Just say hello. Don't mention chemistry immediately.

Talk about... anything else.

The weather? No, that sounded stupid.

Basketball? I knew absolutely nothing about basketball.

I took a deep breath and forced my feet to move.

One step. Then another.

The closer I got, the louder my heartbeat became.

I stopped in front of him and managed a small smile.

"Hey, Ace."

He slowly looked up from his phone. For a second, our eyes met.

Then recognition flickered across his face.

"Chemistry nerd?" he said flatly.

The nickname stung more than I wanted to admit.

"My name is Lia," I corrected softly. "Not a Chemistry Nerd."

He shrugged.

"Whatever." He slipped his phone into his pocket. "What do you want?"

The words I'd rehearsed disappeared from my mind.

I opened my mouth but nothing came out.

"Oh..." I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly. "I just wanted to ask how prepared you are for the chemistry test next week."

He stared at me for a second before letting out a short laugh.

"I knew it." He shook his head.

"What else would a chemistry nerd want to talk about besides chemistry and some damn test?"

Heat rushed to my cheeks.

"I just thought…"

"My team is waiting for me," he cut in, already walking past me. "Try finding another study partner."

He didn't even look back.

I stood there, watching him disappear down the hallway.

Damn it.

What if he doesn't like talking about chemistry? I'm terrible at talking to people.

I'd almost forgotten that I had a much bigger problem and if I don't get it fixed, I will be homeless in the next three days.

I hurried down the hallway when I heard a sobbing voice from the male locker’s room.

Who could that be?

I sneaked in carefully and peeped.

Oh… jeez.

Byran.

He embarrassed me just last night, maybe this is the right time to punish him.

I pulled out my phone and began recording.

“Mom, I feel really down right now.”

A hollow laugh escaped my lips.

Oh. He mustn't see me. I covered my mouth immediately.

Bryan, the campus hearththrob, a mommy's boy?

I chuckled.

My phone buzzed loudly immediately.

“You have just three days to decide!”

My breath caught.

“Why now?” I whispered.